Discussion Question 1: Cultural Competency in Health Services

The field of cultural competence has recently emerged as part of a strategy to reduce disparities in access to and quality of health care. Since this is an emerging field, efforts to define and implement the principles of cultural competence are still ongoing. Cultural competence in health care describes the ability of systems to provide care to patients with diverse values, beliefs and behaviors, including tailoring delivery to meet patients’ social, cultural, and linguistic needs.

Part I. Define cultural competency and describe its overall importance in the delivery of health services.

Part II. Do you believe the healthcare delivery system is culturally sensitive in its delivery of services? Defend your position.

Discussion Question 2: Effects of Diversity on Health Services

Diversity often is used in the context of legal requirements as mandated by discrimination and harassment laws, and in the past has referred to “protected classes,” such as gender, race, color and religion. In fact, diversity encompasses all of the potential differences that affect how we interpret and behave, differences that are so commonly encountered that we might fail to understand their power. It is important to take a look at how diversity impacts a growing and changing healthcare industry.

Part I. Identify three ways the growing diversity of the health care workforce affects the management of a health care organization today.

Part II. Discuss what management can do to enhance their own and their employees' awareness of the growing diversity of the community served.